Ever wondered why, even after prepaying for your Marriott stay, a significant chunk of change gets held on your credit card? Or perhaps you've been surprised by an extra charge on your bill after checking out? This, my friends, is the elusive Marriott incidental fee, or more accurately, the incidental hold or incidental charges. It's a common practice across the hotel industry, but understanding how it works at a giant like Marriott can save you stress and unexpected financial surprises.
Let's dive deep into this topic, giving you a clear, step-by-step guide to navigating the world of Marriott incidental fees!
Step 1: Let's demystify "Incidental Fees" together!
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Marriott, let's start with a fundamental question: what exactly are "incidental fees" in a hotel context? Have you ever charged a drink from the mini-bar to your room? Ordered room service at 2 AM? Perhaps enjoyed a movie from the in-room entertainment system? Or maybe even splashed out on a spa treatment at the hotel? These are all examples of incidental charges.
Essentially, incidental fees cover any charges incurred during your stay that are not part of your base room rate and applicable taxes. Hotels, including Marriott, require a way to ensure these potential costs are covered.
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| How Much Is Marriott Incidental Fee |
Step 2: Understanding the "Incidental Hold" – Marriott's Safety Net
Now that we know what incidentals are, let's talk about how Marriott handles them – through an incidental hold, also known as a pre-authorization.
Sub-heading 2.1: What is a Credit Card Hold?
When you check into a Marriott hotel (or many other hotels, for that matter), even if you've paid for your room in advance or are using points, you'll be asked for a credit or debit card. This isn't necessarily to charge you immediately for incidentals. Instead, the hotel places a temporary hold on a certain amount of funds on your card. This effectively reserves that amount, making it unavailable for other purchases until the hold is released.
Think of it like a security deposit, but instead of actually taking the money, they just "freeze" it.
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Sub-heading 2.2: How Much is the Marriott Incidental Hold?
This is the golden question, and here's the crucial part: there isn't one universal "Marriott incidental fee" amount. The incidental hold amount can vary significantly based on several factors:
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Individual Hotel Policy: Each Marriott property (be it a Courtyard, a JW Marriott, a Renaissance, or a Fairfield Inn) sets its own incidental hold policy. A luxury resort is likely to have a higher hold than a budget-friendly option.
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Length of Stay: Generally, the longer your stay, the higher the total incidental hold. This is often calculated as a per-night amount.
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Type of Room/Suite: Larger rooms or suites, especially those with mini-bars or more extensive amenities, might have a higher daily incidental hold.
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Anticipated Spending: While not explicitly stated, hotels often factor in the potential for incidental spending. A business traveler staying at a full-service hotel might have a higher hold than someone on a quick, no-frills overnight stay.
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Local Regulations: In some jurisdictions, there might be regulations that influence the maximum or minimum amount a hotel can place as an incidental hold.
_As a general guideline, you can expect an incidental hold to range anywhere from $20 to $200 (or more) per night in addition to your room and tax charges. For example, a common practice might be $50 per night. So, for a three-night stay, the hold could be $150. It's vital to remember this is a hold, not a charge, unless you incur actual incidental expenses.
Step 3: What Can Trigger an Incidental Charge?
It's important to differentiate between the hold and the actual charges. The hold is a pre-authorization. The charges are what you truly spend. Here are common items that fall under incidental charges at Marriott properties:
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Mini-bar items: Those tempting snacks and beverages.
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Room service: Anything ordered for delivery to your room.
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Restaurant/Bar charges: If you dine at an on-site restaurant or bar and choose to bill it to your room.
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Spa services: Massages, treatments, etc., charged to your room.
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Gift shop purchases: Items bought at the hotel's gift shop and charged to your room.
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In-room movies/entertainment: Pay-per-view films or other digital entertainment.
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Laundry/Dry Cleaning services: If you use the hotel's laundry service.
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Parking fees: If the hotel has paid parking and you charge it to your room.
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Resort fees: Crucially, some Marriott properties, especially resorts, have mandatory daily resort fees. These are often charged in addition to the room rate and are sometimes covered by the incidental hold, or explicitly added to your bill. Always check if a resort fee applies to your reservation.
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Damage to the room: While not ideal, if there's damage to the room or its contents, the hotel can charge your card for the repairs.
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Smoking fees: If you smoke in a non-smoking room, a hefty cleaning fee will be applied.
Step 4: How Does the Incidental Hold Work with Your Card?
The process differs slightly depending on whether you use a credit card or a debit card.
Sub-heading 4.1: Credit Card Holds
When Marriott places a hold on your credit card, the amount is temporarily deducted from your available credit limit. It doesn't appear as a charge on your statement, but your accessible credit is reduced.
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Pros: Generally, credit card holds are released faster than debit card holds. You also aren't losing access to your actual cash.
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Cons: It temporarily reduces your available credit, which could be an issue if you're close to your credit limit or planning other large purchases.
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Sub-heading 4.2: Debit Card Holds
Using a debit card for the incidental hold can be more impactful. The amount is immediately deducted from your bank account balance, meaning you lose access to those funds.
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Pros: No credit card debt.
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Cons: Significant drawback: The hold can take longer to release after check-out, sometimes up to 5-10 business days, or even longer depending on your bank. This can cause issues with your budget if you're relying on those funds. It is generally advisable to use a credit card for hotel incidental holds if possible.
Step 5: The Release of the Incidental Hold
Once you check out and your final bill is settled, the hotel notifies your card issuer to release the hold.
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For Credit Cards: The hold typically drops off your available credit within 1-5 business days.
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For Debit Cards: This can take anywhere from 5 to 10 business days, or even longer, depending on your bank's processing times. While the hotel releases the hold quickly, it's often your bank that causes the delay in returning the funds to your accessible balance.
What to do if the hold isn't released: If you notice the hold persists for an unreasonable amount of time, first, contact the hotel directly and provide your check-out date and confirmation number. If that doesn't resolve it, contact your bank and explain the situation.
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Step 6: Strategies to Minimize or Avoid Incidental Charges
While the incidental hold is largely unavoidable, you have significant control over the charges themselves.
Sub-heading 6.1: Be Mindful of Your Spending Habits
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Mini-bar & Room Service: These are notorious for being expensive. Consider stocking up on snacks and drinks from a local grocery store or convenience store.
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On-site Restaurants/Bars: If you want to control your spending, ask for a separate bill and pay directly with your credit card for each transaction, rather than charging it to your room.
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Hotel Amenities: Always inquire about fees for amenities like Wi-Fi (though increasingly free for loyalty members), gym access (if not included), or pool use if you're unsure.
Sub-heading 6.2: Communicate with the Front Desk
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Upon Check-in: Don't hesitate to ask about the specific incidental hold amount and the hotel's policy regarding its release. You can also ask if there are any mandatory resort fees.
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Before Check-out: Request a printout of your bill the night before or morning of check-out to review all charges. This allows you to dispute any errors before you leave.
Sub-heading 6.3: Utilize Loyalty Programs
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Marriott Bonvoy Members: Elite members (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) often receive benefits like complimentary in-room internet, welcome amenities (which can sometimes be a food & beverage credit), and late check-out. These perks can reduce potential incidental charges.
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Free Night Awards: If you're staying on a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award, the room rate and applicable taxes are covered, but you are still responsible for incidental charges and any mandatory resort fees.
Step 7: What About Resort Fees?
Resort fees are a separate, non-negotiable charge at many resort properties. While they are technically not "incidental" in the sense of being optional charges you incur, they are often added to your bill and can be quite substantial. Marriott's terms state that credit card holds at check-in will cover "room & tax charges, any applicable resort fees, plus an amount for incidentals per day for the entire stay." This means the resort fee is factored into that initial hold.
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Always check for resort fees during the booking process. They should be disclosed before you confirm your reservation.
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They are mandatory, regardless of whether you use the amenities they supposedly cover (like pool access, fitness center, basic Wi-Fi, etc.).
10 Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
Here are some common questions about Marriott incidental fees and their quick answers:
How to Check the Incidental Fee Amount Before My Stay?
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The best way is to call the specific Marriott hotel directly a few days before your arrival. They will be able to tell you their exact incidental hold policy.
How to Avoid Incidental Charges Entirely?
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To truly avoid incurring incidental charges, simply do not use any paid hotel amenities or services like the mini-bar, room service, or pay-per-view movies. Pay for all external food/drinks separately.
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How to Get My Incidental Hold Released Faster?
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Use a credit card instead of a debit card. While the hotel releases the hold immediately, the actual time it takes for the funds to become available is up to your bank. Credit card holds generally clear quicker.
How to Dispute an Incidental Charge on My Bill?
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Speak to the front desk staff immediately upon noticing an error, ideally before you check out. If you've already checked out, contact the hotel's accounting department directly or use Marriott's online "Contact Us" form, selecting "Billing Accuracy" as your issue.
How to Know if My Marriott Stay Has a Resort Fee?
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Resort fees should be disclosed during the booking process on Marriott.com or the booking platform. They will typically be listed as a separate line item under the rate details.
How to Pay for Incidentals Without a Credit Card?
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Some hotels may accept a cash deposit for incidentals, but this is becoming increasingly rare and is at the discretion of the individual property. It's best to call and confirm directly with the hotel in advance.
How to Track My Incidental Spending During My Stay?
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You can usually request a printout of your current bill from the front desk at any time during your stay. This allows you to monitor charges and ensure accuracy.
How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points for Incidentals?
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Generally, you cannot use Marriott Bonvoy points directly to cover incidental charges on your bill. Points are typically for free nights or other specific redemptions.
How to Budget for Incidental Fees?
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Assume a contingency amount in your travel budget, typically an extra $50-$100 per night, to cover potential incidental holds and any unexpected charges you might incur.
How to Prevent Unauthorized Charges to My Room?
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At check-in, you can inform the front desk that you do not wish to have charging privileges enabled for your room. This means any purchases at the hotel must be paid for directly at the point of sale.
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